Former Wilkins Township Police Chief Keith Guthrie said he will reject a proposed retirement settlement offer from the township, return to federal court and request that he be reinstated as chief if he doesn't receive benefits initially promised to him.

Mr. Guthrie reached a tentative agreement with Wilkins to settle a civil rights lawsuit on Feb. 24. The agreement would grant him $98,688 in settlement funds and compensatory pay for sick, vacation, holiday and personal days upon his retirement. However, Mr. Guthrie said his attorney and the township have been unable to reach agreement regarding health care benefits for him and his wife since the tenative agreement was reached. Mr. Guthrie said he and his wife are entitled to full health care coverage until they are eligible for Medicare, according to the current police contract, but township attorneys have said the Guthries' coverage is subject to change with future police contracts.

Mr. Guthrie said his attorney, Pat Sorek, sent a draft of the agreement including his health care benefits, to the township's attorney on Thursday. If he doesn't hear back in a timely fashion he will tell Mr. Sorek he wants to return to court. Mr. Sorek, who would not comment on details of the negotiating process, filed a motion to enforce the original settlement on March 20.

"If they don't respond soon I'm going to tell my attorneys to go ahead with a motion and tell them to reinstate me," Mr. Guthrie said today.

Township Manager Rebecca Bradley said since the courts mandated settlement between the two parties it would be up to the courts whether Mr. Guthrie could reject the possibility of settlement to pursue his original case. Ms. Bradley also said Mr. Guthrie effectively retired after the township's board of commissioners voted to accept a retirement application signed by him on March 9. She said Mr. Guthrie received his first pension payment this month. Mr. Guthrie has denied signing a retirement application.